[BOD] FW: Notice of Shasta AOR Application for Name Change

Fri Apr 17 12:33:35 PDT 2026

Kathy Allen AE

Coastal Mendocino Association of REALTORS®
32670 Hwy 20, Unit 6
Fort Bragg, CA 95437
Phone: 707-964-7008  

 <mailto:cmar at mcn.org> cmar at mcn.org   <http://www.cmaor.org/> www.cmaor.org 

From: Christopher Harrigan <charrigan at nar.realtor> 
Sent: Friday, April 17, 2026 12:06 PM
To: mcbr at sti.net; annie.ives at corp.themls.com; dwetzel at mlslistings.com; jessica at sacrealtor.org; ceo at marinrealtors.org; wyndi at glarealtors.com; kimmkennedy2 at yahoo.com; dianecgavar at gmail.com; andrew at theaar.com; diane at northcountyaor.org; Derek Sprague <dereks at pwr.net>; cindy at bakersfieldrealtor.org; khartman at mysccar.org; c21jessegibbs at gmail.com; patrick at cvar.org; Sandy.Hufford at c21selectgroup.com; alisha at snvrealtors.com; cmar at mcn.org; sheiren at ccartoday.com; Shawn at cvar.net; tonia at deltaaor.com; eo at jtgar.com; donnah at ridgecrestaor.com; evp at daor.com; dwoodard at edcar.org; dez at fresnorealtors.com; Sevak at gaor.org; davina at bridgeaor.org; davina at bridgeaor.org; davina at bridgeaor.org; kristen at harealtors.com; christywilke71 at gmail.com; ruben at icaor.com; MDowling at ivaor.com; Peggi Carrasco <eo at kcbor.com>; bobbie at lbrealtors.com; jessicaj at lcaor.com; lassenassoc at yahoo.com; hank at connectlar.org; ae.lvaor at gmail.com; cheritta at burbankrealtors.org; lashawn at srcar.org; maderarealtors at gmail.com; smanners at maliburealtors.org; stacey at mlbor.com; syreeta at mercedcounty.com; veronica at mdbor.com; kevin at mcar.com; khinman at nevadacountyaor.com; lisa at nba.realtor; tommy at nsdcrealtors.com; jesse at nscar.net; sydney.ovbr at gmail.com; kim at nbaor.com; rich at psar.org; art at crmls.org; philh at car.org; paorwebsite at gmail.com; pcardus at silvar.org; lisa at pismocoastrealtors.com; danderson at pcaor.com; chris.vogt.cre at gmail.com; ae at plumasrealtors.com; wendyg at ranchosoutheast.com; Kathy at MRCAOR.com; sbcaor at pacbell.net; chris at realestatechris.com; dnaoroffice at gmail.com; neil at sccaor.com; lisa at slocaor.org; alane at samcar.org; bjohnson at sbaor.com; Jessie at smaor.com; eb at villagesite.com; association at syvaor.com; siskiyouaor at gmail.com; jpayne at saor.org; jennifer at pvpar.com; nikki at southbayaor.com; sharon at staor.org; dave at ocrealtors.org; triciat at bayeast.org; valerieb at srar.com; raveion.jordan at lasaor.com; sue at tahoemls.com; carmen at tehachapiaor.com; donnam.shastamls at gmail.com; steve2007108 at gmail.com; trinityaor at gmail.com; ashley at tcrealtors.org; mgbrown at csmaor.com; kristy at hdaor.com; brett at tularecountyrealtors.com; albert at wsgvar.com; sharleen at yolorealtors.com; annette at tigar.org; annette at tigar.org; laurah at tricorealtors.com; jim.bachand at sfrealtors.com; james at vcrealtors.com; moniquem at inglewoodbor.com; rian at pfar.org; crystal at syaor.com
Cc: Donna Medina <donnam.shastamls at gmail.com>; philh at car.org; Daniel Doepke <ddoepke at nar.realtor>; Nick Blair <NBlair at nar.realtor>; Christopher Harrigan <charrigan at nar.realtor>
Subject: Notice of Shasta AOR Application for Name Change 

To:          All California Association Executives

Re:          Notice of Proposed Name Change 

Date:      April 17, 2026

This email will serve as official notice of the following name change application:

Current name: Shasta Association of REALTORS® 

Proposed name:  Norcal Association of REALTORS®

This application is being processed in accordance with name criteria and procedures established by the Membership Policy and Board Jurisdiction Committee and Board of Directors (see below).

Objections to the proposed name may only be on the bases that the name selected is deceptively similar to the name of the objecting board/association, and/or that the name selected may be misleading in that it does not describe the current actual service area of the association with a reasonable degree of accuracy.  (See criteria #3 and #4 of the procedure  -below-  for approving association names.)   

Written objections from a state or local association must be emailed to Chris Harrigan at charrigan at nar.realtor <mailto:charrigan at nar.realtor>  and must be received by no later than Tuesday, June 16, 2026.  Written objections must specify, in reasonable detail, the basis or bases for the objection and must include all documents or other evidence upon which the objecting association intends to rely.  Only those bases and issues raised in the written statement may be raised by the objecting association(s) in any hearing by the National Association.  No additional written documentation may be submitted after Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Please note in accordance with the name procedures, written objections should contain only that information relevant to the National Association’s consideration of the dispute and shall be limited to no more than thirty (30) pages (including supporting documentation).   

If there are no objections from other associations that the name selected is deceptively similar to the objecting association’s name, or that the name selected is misleading in that it does not describe the current actual service area of the board with a reasonable degree of accuracy, the name shall be administratively approved and the National Association’s membership records will be updated accordingly.  Written notice shall be provided to the applicant association with a copy to the state association.  

Questions concerning this name change should be referred to NAR’s Member Policy Team at 312-329-8399.

Sincerely,

Greg Kiely, 2026 Chair 

Membership Policy and Board Jurisdiction Committee

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® 

PROCEDURE FOR APPROVING NAMES OF ASSOCIATIONS

MEMBERSHIP POLICY AND BOARD JURISDICTION COMMITTEE

(Where the term Association is used in this procedure, it shall be deemed to include member boards and associations. 

Below is the Procedure for Approving the Name of a Member Association of the National Association of REALTORS®, including the required application form that must be filed with the Member Experience Team. 

Questions concerning the name change procedure can be directed to NAR’s Member Experience Team at 1-800-874-6500, x8399, or NARPolicyQuestions at nar.realtor <mailto:NARPolicyQuestions at nar.realtor> .

I. Application 

An association requesting a change of name or approval of an alternative business name (i.e., DBA) must submit the required documentation (i.e., application for Change of Name, Agreement to Use the Term REALTOR®, and a copy of the association Board of Directors minutes authorizing the proposed name) to the National Association's Member Experience Team.  Copies shall also be provided simultaneously to the State Association for informational purposes. State Associations shall also be copied on all NAR correspondence concerning the processing of name applications.  

Note: Associations are strongly encouraged to discuss potential name change requests with neighboring associations prior to submitting an application to NAR. This may alert applicant associations to potential objections and help facilitate the resolution of disputes prior to applying.     

Note: The following additional policies shall apply to name applications for associations that are parties to a merger:

-             merging associations may submit name requests prior to the approval of the merger by the respective associations.

-             merging associations may submit up to three proposed names with their request.

II. Criteria

Associations are only authorized to use names approved by the NAR Board of Directors pursuant to these procedures. Names selected by new associations, applications for change of name, and applications for alternative business names (i.e., DBA’s) submitted by existing associations will be considered based on the following criteria:

(1) Ensure that the REALTOR® trademark is used properly and that the term REALTOR® or REALTORS® is used in the name. Any name (including non-geographic names) must convey the idea of an organization of members who have joined together to promote the professionalism of real estate practitioners in the community.

(2) Ensure that the name does not reflect adversely on the REALTOR® organization (e.g., use of a name that implies that membership is somehow restricted by race or religious beliefs, etc.).

(3)  Consider objections raised by other associations that the name selected is deceptively similar to the objecting association's name.  The term "deceptively similar" means that the name selected by an association is sufficiently similar to the name of an existing association so as to be misleading.  For example, an association selecting the name "Greater Orange County Association of REALTORS®" when another association named Orange County Association of REALTORS® already exists might be considered "deceptively similar."        

(4)  Consider objections raised by other Associations that the name selected may be misleading in that it does not describe the current actual service area of the association with a reasonable degree of accuracy.

III. Notice 

NAR's policy and legal staff will review the application to ensure compliance with #1 and #2 above.  Regarding criteria #3 and #4, the National Association shall be responsible for noticing proposed names of new associations and proposed name changes or alternative business names to all associations in the applicant association's state (and any associations in adjoining states whose boundaries physically touch or abut the jurisdictional boundaries of the applicant association).  Publication of such notice electronically to all associations shall be deemed to be good and sufficient notice.  

Notice of association names as provided in this procedure shall not be required in the following instances. Rather, staff shall have the authority to administratively approve such applications provided all required documentation has been submitted:

- where the only change is “Board” to “Association” or deletion of the term “Board” or “Association” or similar term (e.g., Bridgeport Board of REALTORS® to “Bridgeport Association of REALTORS®” or to “Bridgeport REALTORS”) or the term REALTOR® or REALTORS® is repositioned (e.g., REALTORS® Association of Bridgeport);

- where a commercial overlay board is deleting the term "Association/Board of REALTORS®"(or a similar variation thereof) and replacing it with the term “REALTORS® Commercial Alliance,” provided no other substantive change is being made (e.g., Bridgeport Commercial Association of REALTORS® to “REALTORS® Commercial Alliance of Bridgeport”); 

-where a state/territorial association is replacing the state or territorial name with the preferred abbreviation for the state as approved by the United States Postal Service (e.g., North Carolina Association of REALTORS® to NC REALTORS®).

Following notice of the proposed name change, if #1 and #2 are satisfied and there are no objections from other associations (including the State Association) based on #3 and/or #4 above, the application shall be administratively approved and the National Association's records will be updated accordingly. Written notice of approval shall be provided to the applicant association with a copy to the state association(s).

IV. Filing an Objection to a Proposed Name 

Objections based on criterion #3 and/or criterion #4 must be filed in writing with NAR’s Member Experience Team. Written objections must be filed within sixty (60) days* of the date the notice is mailed or transmitted by the National Association. NAR staff shall provide a copy to the Chairman of the Membership Policy and Board Jurisdiction Committee. The written objection shall set forth in reasonable detail the bases upon which the association alleges that the application is not consistent with criterion #3 and/or criterion #4 and should include documents or other evidence upon which the objecting association intends to rely in any hearing by the National Association.  Written objections should contain only that information relevant to the National Association’s consideration of the dispute and shall be limited to no more than thirty (30) pages (including supporting documentation). The written materials should speak to the name criteria, as this is the criteria utilized by hearing panels in considering name disputes. Parties to the dispute should make every effort to avoid submitting information that is extraneous or irrelevant. Geographic maps may be submitted, but must be of a size that can be reproduced.

*The comment period shall be reduced to 30-days in instances where objections to a name application are filed, and the applicant association withdraws its request and submits a new application.

V. Receipt of Objections/Response to Objections/Request for Hearing

The written objection(s) shall be reviewed by the Chairman of the Membership Policy and Board Jurisdiction Committee or the Chairman's designee for the purpose of determining whether the written statement establishes any legitimate basis for consideration by a hearing panel of the Committee.  

If the written objection is determined to be insufficient, it shall be returned to the objecting association accompanied by an explanation or request for additional detail.  

If the written objection is determined to be sufficient, a copy shall be provided to the applicant association and the association shall have at least thirty (30) days to respond and to request a hearing before the Membership Policy and Board Jurisdiction Committee.  

The response should include documents or other evidence upon which the applicant association intends to rely in any hearing by the National Association. Written responses should contain only that information relevant to the National Association’s consideration of the dispute and shall be limited to no more than thirty (30) pages (including supporting documentation). The written materials should speak to the name criteria, as this is the criteria utilized by hearing panels in considering name disputes. Parties to the dispute should make every effort to avoid submitting information that is extraneous or irrelevant. Geographic maps may be submitted, but must be of a size that can be reproduced.

In the event the applicant association requests a hearing, a $500 filing fee must be submitted with the association’s response. The filing fee will be returned following the hearing or under the following circumstances: 

a.	The applicant association participates in mandatory mediation.  
b.	The applicant association withdraws its application no later than 30 days prior to a scheduled hearing. 

(Note: The filing fee will also be refunded if all parties agree to the withdrawal of an application within 30 days of a scheduled hearing.)

VI. Mediation/Dispute Resolution 

Following receipt of all objections to a name application and the applicant association request for a hearing, the National Association will provide the applicant association and objecting association(s) with notices and instructions for NAR sponsored mediation. Mediation is mandatory.

A mediator will be selected from a pool of former or current members of the Membership Policy and Board Jurisdiction Committee identified by the Chair who have completed NAR’s Mediator/Mediation Training Seminar or similar mediation training. A mutually convenient time shall be established for the mediation. Mediation will be conducted using video conferencing services.

This does not preclude associations from continuing efforts locally or through their state association to resolve the dispute. The parties to a name change dispute may settle the issue between them by agreement at any time. 

Note: To access a list of available mediators go to: http://realtor.org/pstmrsrc.nsf/mediatename?Openview

If the resolution involves a new name which is substantively different than the name which was originally submitted for approval, the new name must be re-noticed and processed pursuant to these procedures. 

VII. The Hearing 

The applicant association and all objecting associations shall have the opportunity to appear before a hearing panel of the National Association's Membership Policy and Board Jurisdiction Committee to present their respective positions. 

All parties will have the opportunity to submit additional written arguments and documentation approximately fourteen (14) days prior to any scheduled hearing. Only those bases and issues raised in the written submission(s) may be raised by the parties in any hearing before the Committee.  

The burden shall be on the applicant association to demonstrate that the name selected by the applicant association meets the criteria for approval. Except as otherwise provided herein, the duration, nature, scope and conduct of any hearing shall be within the discretion of the Chairman of the Membership Policy and Board Jurisdiction Committee.  NAR staff shall advise all parties in advance of the date, time and place of the hearing and the procedures to be followed at the hearing.  In no event shall the Committee be required to conduct a hearing unless the complete application is received by January 1 for the midyear meeting of the Committee or July 1 for the annual meeting of the Committee. The applicant association is required to have a representative participate in name hearings either in person or through video conferencing services. Objecting parties are strongly encouraged, but not required, to have representatives at name hearings. Speakers shall be limited to current association members, association staff, and legal counsel.

The following is a list of factors that may be considered by hearing panels of the Membership Policy and Board Jurisdiction Committee convened to resolve disputes between associations based on criterion #4.  This list is not all inclusive and is intended to guide panels as to facts, issues, questions, and other considerations that may facilitate their reaching fair, equitable, and reasoned decisions.  These factors should also be carefully considered by parties preparing written materials and oral presentations for hearing panels.

1.	What is the association's "service area" (i.e., the geographical area encompassing a majority of members' offices, and the offices of other REALTOR® firms who purchase association services without holding membership locally under Board of Choice)? (An area shall not be deemed part of an association’s service area unless the applicant demonstrates that a reasonable number of member offices or other offices of REALTOR® firms who purchase services are located in that area.)

2.	Is the proposed name descriptive of the association's service area, or does it suggest or imply that the association serves a significantly larger geographic area than has been demonstrated?

3.	Will the proposed name potentially confuse the public and/or the real estate community with respect to the names/alternative names of other associations.

The hearing panel's decision will be final, except that any party may file a request for procedural review of the decision by the NAR Board of Directors based only on alleged procedural deficiencies or other irregularities the party believes constitute a deprivation of due process. Requests for procedural review shall be considered in accordance with the procedure established by the Board of Directors.

Name change hearings are not "legal" proceedings or "trials" and are not subject to the customary rules applicable to judicial proceedings, such as rules of evidence or cross-examination of the other associations' presenters. 

The Membership Policy and Board Jurisdiction Committee shall not consider a contested application for change of name if, within a period of two (2) years prior to the date the application is received, the Committee has denied an application from the same association for the same (or substantively similar) name or the applicant association has submitted and withdrawn the identical (or substantively similar) application provided, however, that the relevant criteria for considering the change of name has not been amended during that two (2) year period.

Christopher Harrigan, MBA, RCE, AHWD, C2EX, CMLX1, RED-B, e-PRO
Manager, Policy Information

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® | 312-329-8475| <mailto:charriga at realtors.org> charriga at realtors.org 

Christopher Harrigan 

Manager, Policy Information
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® | 430 N Michigan Ave | Chicago, IL 60611
Email:  <mailto:charrigan at nar.realtor> charrigan at nar.realtor | Office:  <tel:312-329-8475> 312-329-8475 
 <https://www.nar.realtor> www.nar.realtor 

 <https://smart.nar.realtor/v2/a/march25/69e28493553f5947991897c2-zKwLz/httpsnar.realtor> 

Visit  <https://www.nar.realtor/the-facts?cid=em_facts_008> Facts.realtor for the latest information about the NAR settlement 

The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® is an unrivaled advocate and resource in the real estate market for its members and their clients, and only members of NAR can call themselves REALTORS®. 

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